The cover of Sower of Dreams (The Gods’ Dream Trilogy Book 1) includes an Andre Norton quote endorsing the novel as “outstanding and well presented fantasy” and the author credits Norton’s Witchworld series as inspiring her book. How could I not read it?
Sower of Dreams does not disappoint. It reminded me of some Andre Norton stories with the enigmatic and never explained portals that terminate in ruined cities on different worlds, and the mood was reminiscent of Norton’s work too, a combination of dreaming, fear, running, love and standing up finally for one’s self and one’s loves.
I enjoyed the simplicity of the character set. We have major players Khan, exiled from earth to flee his murderous half brother, Daria, princess of Seagem, Thaddis, newly crowned king of ally Ocean’s Glory, Amir, envious half brother to Khan, plus assorted friends and family members. I appreciate books where the characters have reasonably short, memorable names (as opposed to those with lots of consonants and apostrophes).
Characters and setting were well done as was the romance between Daria and Khan and the tension and fear as they seek ways to build a life together. I wasn’t altogether pleased with how easily Daria rejected her “god” Yadarius or her father’s charge to be the queen. Her actions fit the story (better than the alternatives), they just sounded a sour note in the background.
True to the Andre Norton spirit author Holland constructs lovable creatures, monkey bats Shad and Shir, who become friends with Khan and Daria. Also true to the Norton spirit, the author presents both villains with an opportunity to choose the wise and moral path and both villains spurn the choice.
Also like Norton author Holland left some dangling pieces to use in follow up novels, whether separate series or sequels. One is Khan’s earth friend Jasmine escapes via the mysterious portal in the middle of the earth desert to a foggy, shadowed land. Another is the political fallout and restitution between Ocean’s Glory and Seagem once Thaddis’s soldier Boerk takes Thaddis back to Ocean’s Glory. The last string is the missing Pasinea, a nasty lady whose “power is temporarily depleted”.
The book is not complex nor challenging, a gentle, enjoyable read with interesting characters and familiar mood.
As the title notes, Sower of Dreams is the first in a trilogy. The excerpt for book two, Reaper of Dreams, shows us that Daria’s beloved oldest brother Indaran still lives, a prisoner of an evil “god”. It would be interesting to see how Holland ties the Jasmine and Pasinea strings into the Indaran story.
Four stars if you are in the mood, three stars if you want something a bit meatier.
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